Indicating device for switches



Oct. 17, 1933. w. E. WEGNER 1,931,310

INDICATING DEVICE FOR SWITCHES I Filed Feb. 19, 1931 Patented Oct. 17,1933 1,931,310 INDICATING nnvrcn FOR SWITCHES Walter E. Wegner, Denver,0010., assignor of one-half to Editlie A. Davis, Denver, 0010.

Application February 19, 1931. Serial No. 517,000

2 Claims.

This invention relates to an indicator for use with switches.

Where switches are located in the room with the light that they control,the room is dark when the light is turned off and the position of theswitch is therefore difficult to find unless a person is so wellacquainted that hecan find the same in the dark.

Where switches control lights located at a distance, as, for example,where the switch is located in the kitchen and the light is located inthe basement, the light is often left burning when it is unnecessary forit to do so, simply because it requires a close inspection of the switchto tell whether the light is burning or not.

It is the object of this invention to produce a simple indicating devicethat can be applied to any switch and which will indicate by means of alight, the position of the switch so that the latter can readilybelocatedinadarkenedroom and which when applied to a switch thatcontrols a light located in another room, will serve to indicate whetherthis light is burning or not.

This invention, briefiy described, consists in a small gasfilled lamp ofthe neon type that is so designed that it will operate on a voltage of ahundred volts and up to live hundred volts, and which is secured to abase that can readily be fastened to the switch and which is alsoprovided with conductors that can be connected with the terminals of theswitch.

In order to more clearly describe this'invention and the manner in whichit is constructed and used, reference will be had to the accompanyingdrawing in which the preferred embodiment thereof has been illustrated,and in which:

Fig. 1 is a front view showing a switch cover plate of a specialconstruction and provided with my improved indicator;

Fig. 2 is a section taken on line 2-2, Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the indicator showing the same secured to aremovable base;

Fig. 4 is a diagram showing the relation of the switch, the lamp that itcontrols and the indicator;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of a switch cover plate showing a slightlymodified form of indicator secured in place thereon; and

Fig. 6 is a section taken on line 66, Fig. 5.

In the drawing reference numeral 1 indicates the outer surface of a wallwithin which is located an ordinary outlet box 2. Located within thisbox is a switch 3 which is of the usual construction and which isprovided with two stationary switch contacts 4 and 5 and a movableswitch contact 6 that is controlled by means of a handle 7. The movableswitch contact can be moved into such a position that it will connectthe contact 4 with contact 5, thereby closing the switch; or into theposition shown in Fig. 2 in which it does not make connection witheither of the stationary contacts. In Fig. 41 have shown a single poleswitch connected in the circuit so as to control a lamp 8. The source ofcurrent has been indicated by reference numeral 9 and has been shown asa battery, but this is merely illustrative as the ordinary houselighting current is usually employed. A neon type gasfilled lamp 10 isshown as connected to the stationary contacts 4 and 5 by means ofconductors 11 and 12, respectively. When the switch is in open position,as shown in Fig. 4,.the entire voltage of the source of electric currentwill be applied to the terminals of the indicator lamp and the latterwill, therefore glow. When the switch is closed, the indicator lamp'willbe short circuited and the lamp 8 will be connected in the circuit andwill therefore be lighted. It will be seen from the description justgiven that the indicator lamp will be glowing when the lamp 8 is darkand therefore the switch can readily be found in a dark room as itsposition will be determined by the indicator lamp that is plainlyvisible.

If lamp 8 is located in another room, the indicator lamp 10 will showwhether it is burning or not. If lamp '8 is burning the indicator lampwill not glow, but if the lamp 8 is not burning the indicator lamp willbe glowing and it is therefore possible to tell at a glance whether theswitch is in closed or open position.

In order to make it convenient to apply this indicator lamp toinstallations already in place, a base 13 has been provided. This baseis preferably a sheet of metal provided with two spring fingers 14 thatare adapted to embrace and hold the casing 15 within which the lamp 10is located. Base 13 is provided with an opening 16 for the reception ofa securing screw. The base is preferably clamped between the lugs 17 and18 as shown in Fig. 2, and the lamp 10 can therefore be connected withthe switch while the cover plate is removed. After the indicator lamphas been connected, the cover can be put in place in the usual manner.The cover plate shown in Figs. 1 and 2, is provided with a compartment171, for the reception of the indicator lamp. This compartment can bemade by pressing outwardly a portion of the plate in the manner shown.

It is evident that the lamp 10 can be placed in a recess in the base ofthe switch and this is preferable where a special switch is used, butwhere the indicator lamp is .to be applied to switches alreadyinstalled, it is necessary to attach it to the same, which can be doneeither in the manner shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, or by the somewhatsimpler expedient illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6.

In Figs. 5 and 6 reference numeral 181 designates a cover plate of theusual construction. A special extension plate 19 is put in place betweenthe cover plate and the wall and held in place by means of a screw 20.Plate 19 is provided at one end with a chamber 21 in which the lamp islocated. This chamber has an opening 22 through which the lamp can beseen. When the construction shown in Figs. 5 and 6 is employed, theindicator lamp is connected to the switch terminals in the mannerexplained above and is then covered by means of the cover plate 19 andlocated in the recess 21 of the same. By means of this simple attachmentany ordinary switch can be provided with indicating means which can bereadily put in place and easily removed whenever desired.

From the above description it will be seen that I have produced a simpleand inexpensive indicating device that can be applied to any existingelectrical installation and which will serve to indicate the position ofa switch in a darkroom and which can also be used to indicate theposition of the switch controlling a light in a different room, or whichcontrols any electrical translation device, located at a distance.Although I have indicated that a lamp of the neon type is the mostsuitable for this purpose, I want it understood that any gasfilled lampthat will glow when subjected to the ordinary voltage employed inconnection with houselightings and which will consume only a smallamount of current can be employed for this purpose, regardless ofwhether it contains neon gas or not, and therefore the designation neonshould be considered merely as descriptive and not as limiting theinvention to the use of this particular kind'of lamp.

Having described the invention what is claimed as new is:

1. An indicating device for use with light switches having a removablecover plate and switch base held in position by screws, a plate havingone end provided with an opening, the end of the plate being designed toextend underneath one end of the cover plate and to be so positionedthat the opening will receive one of the securing screws, means carriedby the plate for holding a miniature lamp, said means enclosing the lampexcept for a small opening and two leads connected with the lamp.

2. In a combination comprising, a switch box, and an insulating baselocated therein, the .base and box having each two cooperating lugsprovided with openings for the reception of screws for securing the baseto the box, an indicating 100 device comprising a plate having one endprovided with an opening, the end of the plate overlapping one of thesecuring lugs and held against the same by means of the securing screw,an indicator lamp secured to the plate, two stationary 105 switchcontacts carried by the base, a movable switch member also carried bythe base and movable into and out of contact with the stationarycontacts, and conductors extending from the stationary switch contactsto the terminals of 11 the lamp.

WALTER. E. WEGNER.

